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David Kay’s 2016 NBA Mock Draft
Past Mocks From David Kay
2015 NBA Mock Draft
2014 NBA Mock Draft
Updated: June 23, 2016.
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Boston Celtics: Ben Bentil, PF, Providence 
The Celtics should probably draft the best foreign talent as they have a lot of picks and few roster spots, but Bentil is too talented for them to say no to as he is a starting talent. Playing with Kris Dunn, Bentil had a big season for Providence and is a big-time scorer. -
Los Angeles Lakers: Ante Zizic, C, Croatia 
The Lakers need a franchise center, and Zizic is likely the best prospect at No. 32. The Croatian center looks a lot like Minnesota’s Nikola Pekovic coming into this league, and the Lakers would be getting an excellent talent at a position of need. -
Los Angeles Clippers: Guerschon Yabusele, PF, France 
The Clippers need big man depth. Cole Aldrich is solid, but they need more and Yabusele would be a nice pick for them. He is a skilled offensive big who can shoot, but also block shots, making him a versatile big man for the Clippers’ bench. -
Phoenix Suns: Jake Layman, SF, Maryland 
The Suns wouldn’t need another small forward, but I am a fan of Jake Layman. Layman is an excellent shooter, is athletic, defends and is a perfect three-and-D for Phoenix’s bench; he could also start for the team. -
Boston Celtics: Juan Hernangomez, PF, Spain
This is the Celtics taking a foreign talent who can develop in Europe for at least a year, as they lack roster spots for many of their picks. Hermangomez looks to be a shooting and scoring power forward in the NBA and is one of the best Spanish prospects since Ricky Rubio. -
Milwaukee Bucks: Malcolm Brogdon, G/F, Virginia 
Brogdon is a scorer, shooter, play-maker and defender who can be a solid starter in this league. He was one of the best players in the country this season, and the Bucks could really use his perimeter defense, as they were a poor defensive team. -
Houston Rockets: Stephen Zimmerman, C, UNLV 
Zimmerman is a 7-foot scoring big who can also rebound and block shots, plus, – although he needs more practice – he can shoot. With Dwight Howard likely signing with another team, the Rockets could use another big, and Zimmerman could be the steal of the 2016 NBA Draft if he can become a three-point threat in the NBA. -
Milwaukee Bucks: Malik Beasley, G, Florida State
Beasley is simply ridiculous value. He also gives the Bucks something they don’t have: big-time athleticism to go with big-time scoring at guard. Beasley is small for a two, but has elite sixth man potential. -
New Orleans Pelicans: Patrick McCaw, G/F, UNLV
McCaw at face value is a three-and-D guard/forward, but he is also a play-maker and can give you anything you might need at the two or three. The Pelicans need perimeter help, and he could become a starter for them as a rookie. -
New Orleans Pelicans: Tyrone Walace, PG, California
Wallace should have declared after his junior season, but he is still a strong prospect. What the Pelicans need is talent and the best players they can find, and Wallace is a scoring and defending guard who can play the one or two. He isn’t a shooter or much of a distributor, but he can be an excellent sixth man. -
Orlando Magic: Zhou Qi, C, China 
Qi is the tallest player in the 2016 NBA Draft as well as is an athletic and skilled scorer, but he is so thin that he might not make it in the NBA. This is the Magic trying to win big with one of their two mid-second rounders. -
Utah Jazz: Isaiah Whitehead, G, Seton Hall 
Whitehead is an interesting prospect. He has elite scoring numbers, but he was inefficient, shooting less than 40 percent; however, he is an athletic and versatile player who is a strong three-point shooter. Whitehead can play the point or the two, but he is likely best as a sixth man. This is a best-player pick, as it isn’t a need. -
Houston Rockets: Kahlil Felder, PG, Oakland
Felder had a ridiculous season at a small school and is one of the best scorers and distributors in the 2016 NBA Draft, but he is small. He reminds me of Ty Lawson and could become a start or an elite sixth man for a team that needs one. -
Atlanta Hawks: A.J. Hammons, C, Purdue 
One of the biggest players in the 2016 NBA Draft, the senior is an excellent scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker, but he is almost 24 year old, which really hurts his stock. Regardless, the Hawks can use another big and Hammons can play as a rookie. -
Boston Celtics: Ivica Zubac, C, Bosnia
This is another foreign prospect for the Celtics. Zubac is a talented young prospect with a man’s body (7-0, 260). He should be a strong scorer, but he has a lot to work on. Still, Zubac is a steal here and is just 19 years old. -
Dallas Mavericks: Isaiah Cousins, G, Oklahoma 
I loved watching Cousins play with Buddy Hield, and it seems some teams love Cousins too as he is now a possible first-rounder. The value here is excellent and the Mavericks need youth, so this works perfectly. They would be getting another play-maker, scorer and shooter for their bench. -
Orlando Magic: Marcus Paige, PG, North Carolina
The Magic could use a strong second-unit point guard, for which Paige is perfect. He is a strong distributor and shooter who is also smart and can play big minutes as a rookie as he was one of college basketball’s best players. -
Chicago Bulls: Fred VanVleet, G, Wichita State 
As I said in the first round, the Bulls need help at guard, and VanVleet could help them more next season than Valentine. The local Illinois product is an inefficient scorer, but an excellent distributor and shooter, who nabs a lot of steals and should be a rock solid second-unit point guard, which the Bulls must find. -
Detroit Pistons: Wayne Selden, SG, Kansas 
Seldon has size, strength, athleticism and skill, and although he didn’t become the star most expected, he is a talented shooter and scorer with play-making ability. He is the best player stil on the board to me, and he would be a really strong piece for the Pistons to bring off the bench to bring big-time offene as the third perimeter option. -
Indiana Pacers: Isaia Cordinier, SG, France
To me, Cordinier is the French Marcus Smart, as he is a bulldog of a guard who defends and has scoring talent. Cordinier would fit the Pacers’ type of play as they want to play small and run, plus he has the size to guard three positions and can shoot. -
Boston Celtics: Ron Baker, G, Wichita State
With four years in school, Baker can play as a rookie, and as he is a shooter and scorer who is able to play two positions, he would be a nice role player for Boston. He’s also strong value in the mid-second round. -
Utah Jazz: Jameel Warney, PF, Stony Brook
Warney is one of my favorite prospects in the 2016 NBA Draft. I didn’t know much about him because of where he played, but the more I learn, the more I love him. Statistically, he is one of the best scorers, shot-blockers and rebounders in the draft, and although he lacks size, I think he is going to be a physical monster in the NBA. The Jazz could use somebody like him off the bench; any team can. -
Denver Nuggets: Joel Bolomboy, PF, Weber State 
A scout I know has been talking about Bolomboy for months, but he’s only made my mock since the combine. Bolomboy is one of the best rebounders and athletes in the 2016 NBA Draft, plus he can score and would give the Nuggets a first-day contributor. -
Atlanta Hawks: Georges Niang, F, Iowa State
Niang is one of the most versatile players in the 2016 NBA Draft. He is three/four who can score, rebound and distribute, and while he was one of the best players in the country for years, his athleticism is mediocre. If he was an athlete, he would be a lottery pick. The Hawks love versatility, making him a fit for them. -
Brooklyn Nets: Gary Payton II, G, Oregon State 
The Nets need to take the best player, and that’s Payton. He can play the point, score, and is an excellent rebounder and defender who can be a strong third guard for a team. -
Denver Nuggets: Robert Carter Jr., PF/C, Maryland
Carter is a scoring big man who can shoot, rebound and block shots. He would give the Nuggets nice depth in the frontcourt and can play with any of their bigs. -
Memphis Grizzlies: Zach Auguste, C, Notre Dame 
Auguste was a double-double machine for Notre Dame, and the senior is one of the best rebounding prospects in the 2016 NBA Draft, plus he can score. He is a tough, Grizzly type of big man. -
Boston Celtics: Petr Cornelie, PF, France
Another foreign prospect for the Celtics. Cornelie is a big shooting forward with athleticism, so there is potential to improve. He seems like a strong bet to remain in Europe for at least a year, which the Celtics need from multiple picks. -
Sacramento Kings: Chinanu Onuaku, C, Louisville 
Onuaku is an elite rebounder and shot-blocker who is an efficient offensive player, but I have had trouble placing him. I am a fan of his though, and another big man would be nice for Sacramento. -
Utah Jazz: Anthony Cat Barber, PG, N.C. State
Barber isn’t much of a point guard, but he is one of the best scorers in the 2016 NBA Draft and can be an excellent NBA sixth man. This is just the Jazz taking the best player, and Barber is a steal at pick No. 60 for them.
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By Mike Elworth.
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